channelnewsasia.com
March 3, 2025

Note: Eurosport match commentary below.

DUBAI : Rafael Nadal, the youngest man in the top 50 and many people's tip as a future world number one, continued his progress up the ATP hierarchy by reaching the quarter-finals of the one-million-dollar Dubai Open.

The 17-year-old Spaniard did that Wednesday by winning 6-3, 7-5 against Olivier Rochus, the Belgian who reached the last 16 of last year's Wimbledon, and coming from a break down in each set to do it.

It followed Nadal reaching his first ATP Tour final in Auckland in January and becoming the youngest player ever to win a deciding rubber in a Davis Cup world group tie when he overcame Radek Stepanek of the Czech republic last month.

It also heightened still further the profile of a player who started with a star connection, his uncle Miguel Angel Nadal having captained Spain at soccer and played for Barcelona and Mallorca.

Nadal junior's speed was breathtaking, and his ability to raise his game at important stages was too much even for the fluent Rochus, whose flat-hit ground strokes contrasted fascinatingly with the teenager's topspins in many superb rallies.

Nadal came back from 1-3 in the first set with the help of a brilliantly angled backhand cross court counter-hit which got him to love-40 on Rochus' serve. Then he broke again two games later when he sprinted a drop, hurtled back for a lob and was still able to play out a long baseline rally and win it.

Nadal then recovered from 1-4 in the second set. This time he broke back with the help of another point won through brilliant retrieving, which pressured Rochus into hitting a drop shot too short at game point and dropping it into the net.

The killer break came at 5-5 by which time Nadal had his tail up, launching into a fierce forehand attack, and a fierce approach shot and completing it with a thumping smash. It made him the first player into the last eight.

Earlier Dominik Hrbaty, who has made his best start to the season by winning three titles, lasted less than half an hour, retiring ill after seven games against Paradorn Srichaphan, the seventh seeded Thai.

"I was sick last week, and I had a temperature before playing the final in Marseille. I came here and thought I would feel better. But I don't think I had time to get used to the heat and humidity."


Hrbaty however remained at the tournament, deciding he was fit enough to keep his doubles commitment with partner Julian Knowle of Austria later the dame day.

Here's the short Eurosport Match Commentary of the Nadal/Rochus match:

14:03 Game, set and match Nadal!

14:01 Nadal is now serving for the match

14:00 Lack of first serves from the Belgian in this 10th game and Nadal takes advantage of it Breaking!

13:53 It's a very close match now, it' Nadal who had opportunities of break but Rochus was too good

13:28 The smallest player on the ATP Tour holds serve despite mouting pressure from the Spaniard with a big future... 2-1

13:19 Rochus serves the love for the first game of the second set... the pair play in front of barely 50 spectators

13:15 The fiery nature of Nadal's game proves too much for Rochus, as the 17-year-old Spaniard takes the opening set with a flurry of winners, as his nerves settle... NADAL FIRST SET 6-3

13:00 Nadal takes his first break point, as Rochus fails to hit three first serves in a row... the first set is level at 3-3

12:58 Nadal regains his composure to hold serve for 2-3

12:51 Rochus with the early break to go up 2-1 on a windy centre court...

12:22 Stay tuned now for Olivier Rochus against Spanish teenage sensation Rafael Nadal...